University of Kansas to award 2 honorary degrees

Thursday

Oct 17, 2013 at 3:00 PM

A world-renowned opera singer and a Nobel Prize-winning economist will receive honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Kansas during graduation ceremonies next May.Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and economist Vernon Smith were chosen for the honors by a special selection committee. The Kansas Board of Regents approved the recommendations Wednesday.

A world-renowned opera singer and a Nobel Prize-winning economist will receive honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Kansas during graduation ceremonies next May.
Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and economist Vernon Smith were chosen for the honors by a special selection committee. The Kansas Board of Regents approved the recommendations Wednesday.
DiDonato will receive an honorary doctorate in the arts for her contributions to opera. The Prairie Village native studied vocal education at Wichita State University and has performed with major opera companies throughout the world.
Smith is a Wichita native who holds a master's degree from KU and a doctorate from Harvard. He shared the 2002 Nobel Prize in economics and will receive an honorary doctorate in science for his work in experimental economics.